Nick Bartlett’s 2025 Week 14 SuperWest Fearless Predictions

No. 13 Utah at Kansas

Friday, November 28
9:00 a.m. PT, ESPN

Even although it’s far-fetched, Utah nonetheless has an opportunity to make the Large 12 championship. However they want quite a lot of assist.

The Utes must beat Kansas, hope BYU knocks off UCF, Arizona State must win the Territorial Cup, and Texas Tech should lose in Morgantown. It’s that easy.

What’s simpler, although, is the important thing to this sport. The Jayhawks should discover a technique to cease Utah on the bottom. The U of U ranks second nationally in speeding yards per sport, whereas Rock Chalk ranks 69th in speeding yards allowed per contest.

They gotta load the field and pressure Utah to beat them by way of the air. The Utes rank ninety fifth in complete passing yards. Devon Dampier’s strong along with his arm, however a killer along with his legs. KU additionally matches up effectively in opposition to them, rating 54th in complete move yards allowed.

One other factor to contemplate on this contest is how Jalon Daniels performs on Senior Night time. Kansas is sending off 33 seniors in complete, however Daniels feels essential on this matchup. He’s had a wonderful 12 months statistically, however he’s confirmed inconsistent in his final 5 outings.

Daniel Hishaw Jr. additionally must play effectively. The mix of Leshon Williams and Hishaw Jr. has rushed for 936 yards and eleven speeding touchdowns. They are able to capitalize in opposition to a Utes protection that permits 184 yards per sport on the bottom.

If the Wildcats didn’t put a 40-piece on the Utes final week, this had upset potential. However Morgan Scalley will probably be prepared.

Utah skis by way of Kansas.

Utah 42, Kansas 17

San Diego State at New Mexico

Friday, November 28
12:30 PM PT, CBS Sports activities

A lot of individuals nationally might not notice the bounce New Mexico has made this season. Additionally they might not notice that the Lobos nonetheless have an opportunity to win the Mountain West.

The Lobos tackle an upstart San Diego State crew that has had back-to-back good victories in opposition to San Jose State and Boise State. The Aztecs are a strong crew, however UNM has the potential to beat them.

The important thing to this contest for New Mexico is scoring an honest quantity of factors. SDSU’s an incredible defensive and working crew, however they rank 81st nationally in factors scored per sport.

The mix of Jack Layne, Damon Bankston, and Keagan Johnson might want to make performs. They’ll additionally want Layne to guard the ball. He has the power to take over a sport, however he’s additionally thrown 9 interceptions this 12 months.

If the Lobos rating early, it could put San Diego State in an uncomfortable place. The Aztecs rank 129th in passing yards per sport, so that they’re not constructed for giant comebacks.

SDSU additionally must convert on third downs. They’re 127th nationally in third-down conversion share.

The ultimate key to this contest is New Mexico’s effectivity within the purple zone. The Lobos have a low purple zone offensive scoring share, so that they gotta rating seven after they can in opposition to a top-tier protection.

UNM’s come a great distance, however San Diego State already obtained upset by Hawaii.

The Aztecs anthropomorphize the Lobos.

San Diego State 21, New Mexico 17

Boise State at Utah State

Friday, November 28
1:00 PM PT, CBS

If Boise State wins this sport, it’ll be again within the Mountain West Championship sport. The Broncos are at present in a three-way tie with New Mexico and UNLV, however BSU has the tiebreaker over each of them.

The 2 largest keys on this matchup are depending on Utah State’s protection. The Aggies should discover a technique to cease Boise’s speeding assault. The Broncos rank twenty eighth nationally in yards per sport, and use a three-man rotation to trigger harm.

Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines lead the assault, and Malik Sherrod has chipped in 379 yards and 4 touchdowns to finish the unit. They need to be capable to exploit a USU protection that ranks one hundred and fifth in yards allowed per sport.

If Utah State can cease the run sport, they’ve an opportunity. Max Cutforth has not supplied the identical productiveness as Maddux Madsen. If this matchup turns right into a shootout between Cutforth and Bryson Barnes, the Aggies maintain a lofty benefit.

Barnes offers veteran expertise, and he’s having the most effective season of his profession. He’s thrown for two,503 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. He’s additionally added 644 yards on the bottom and eight touchdowns.

The Aggies’ quarterback is the rationale USU ranks thirty seventh in factors per sport.

The ultimate be aware for this contest is the return of Chris Marshall, who will make it just a little simpler for Cutforth.

Betting in opposition to Boise in November is sacrilegious.

The Broncos enter the snowy season in peace.

Boise State 42, Utah State 28

Oregon State at Washington State

Friday, November 28
3:30 PM PT, The CW

Washington State must discover a technique to end video games subsequent 12 months. The Cougars performed James Madison robust, however let the competition slip away within the second half. This additionally occurred in opposition to Virginia earlier this season.

From a holistic standpoint, the important thing to WSU’s 12 months depends on beating Oregon State of their remaining sport. If the Cougs can knock off the Beavers, they’ll seize their sixth win and qualify for the postseason.

A loss, they usually’re 5-7 with two losses to one of many worst FBS groups within the nation.

The important thing to beating the Beavs this time round is scoring greater than seven factors. The Cougar protection might additionally do a greater job of stopping Anthony Hankerson, however that’s a bit nitpicky.

Hankerson rushed for 132 yards and had Oregon State’s solely landing by way of the bottom. The Beavers enter this contest with an entire lack of momentum. Since upsetting Washington State, OSU has misplaced to each Sam Houston State and Tulsa.

The Beavs additionally don’t have a longtime beginning quarterback coming into this matchup, having used three totally different sign callers. Whoever will get the nod will should be ready in opposition to a WSU protection that ranks thirty seventh in factors allowed per sport.

He’ll additionally must benefit from the Cougs’ offense on third downs; Washington State ranks one hundred and first in third-down conversion share.

If the Cougs “coug” this, they’re cougin arduous. Cougars win.

Washington State 24, Oregon State 10

No. 25 Arizona at No. 20 Arizona State

Friday, November 28
6:00 p.m. PT, FOX

After a median begin to their marketing campaign, Arizona has rotated its season, profitable 4 straight contests. Accidents have confirmed a significant a part of Arizona’s 12 months, however they’ve continued to search out dubs regardless of the resistance.

They enter this contest on a three-game profitable streak. From a logical standpoint, the Solar Devils needs to be distracted. ASU’s enjoying with a backup quarterback, their beginning sign caller is submitting for divorce, and their head coach is within the rumor mill.

Regardless of this, ASU encompasses a gifted squad, with Jeff Sims and Raleek Brown fueling the nation’s Twenty fourth-ranked speeding offense in yards per sport. They’re additionally getting Jordyn Tyson again for this matchup; he’s in all probability the most effective receiver within the area.

Arizona has gotta defend Noah Fifita. Arizona State is tied fifteenth nationally with 31 sacks on the season. This might show problematic for the Wildcats as a result of they rank 112th nationally in sacks allowed.

UA ought to take into account countering the Solar Devils’ stress with some traditional attracts and distinctive display passes. If they’ll preserve gamers like Keyshaun Elliott and Justin Wodtly off-balance, it may benefit their speeding assault.

ASU’s working sport is statistically higher, however Ismail Mahdi is a strong participant.

And Fifita’s a legend, the third-year Wildcat leads his pack off the mountain.

Arizona 31, ASU 28

UCF at No. 11 BYU

Saturday, November 29
10:00 a.m. PT, ESPN2

BYU has labored arduous to earn this chance at residence. If the Cougars can care for enterprise this week, they’ll possible get a rematch with Texas Tech within the Large 12 Championship.

If UCF can escape LaVell Edwards with a dub, they’ll be bowl eligible. But when the Golden Knights are going to make some magic, they’ll want their offense to overperform their season common of factors scored per sport.

They rank 89th on this class, however had offensive explosions in opposition to West Virginia and North Carolina.

The largest parallel in these contests is that Tayven Jackson threw for over 220 yards and guarded the ball. He solely threw one interception in these two matchups, however he has eight on the season.

If Jackson commits turnovers in opposition to the Cougs, it’s going to show an excessive amount of to beat. BYU ranks seventh nationally with 15 interceptions on the 12 months.

One other key to this contest is making the Cougars have lengthy drives. Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston every common over 13 yards per reception. The Knights might want to sort out them instantly to keep away from yards after catch.

They’d additionally profit from forcing the Cougs into third and longs. It will assist remove the specter of the quarterback run. Bear Bachmeier has rushed for 525 yards and 11 touchdowns on 128 carries.

If BYU was gonna sluff it could’ve been final week.

Cosmo breaks by way of the armor.

BYU 38, UCF 14

No. 6 Oregon at Washington

Saturday, November 29
12:30 PM PT, CBS

The Pacific Northwest’s massive one is again, and I’m not speaking about Cal Raleigh’s dumper.

Oregon enters this matchup having defeated USC and Minnesota handily, scoring 42 factors in every contest. Washington enters with back-to-back blowout victories over UCLA and Purdue, tallying 97 factors within the wins.

One point of interest of this matchup needs to be whether or not the Geese can get the Dawgs off the sector on third downs. UW ranks fourth nationally in third-down conversion share, but when they’ll’t lengthen drives, UO’s expertise might overwhelm them.

Oregon additionally wants to guard the ball. The Dawgs are harmful in Husky Stadium, and if Dante Moore makes a few errors, the ambiance might change into an issue.

One other determinant is whether or not the Geese can cease the Husky speeding assault. UW solely ranks 57th in speeding yards per sport, however Jonah Coleman is constructed like an NFL halfback. If UO doesn’t swarm him with our bodies, they’ll remorse it, significantly within the fourth quarter.

The Geese rank fifteenth in speeding yards allowed per sport, however Coleman’s an issue.

The ultimate key on this contest is the 2 quarterbacks. Each guys can take over a sport on the best day. Washington’s near getting again to Oregon’s stage, however they’re not fairly there but.

The Oregon Duck “Rides the Geese.”

Oregon 35, Washington 24

UCLA at No. 17 USC

Saturday, November 29
4:30 PM PT, NBC

The Crosstown Rivalry is a novel matchup within the faculty soccer world. And this 12 months’s model signifies the oddness. Each of those squads are coming into this contest coming off losses.

USC simply obtained eradicated from the Faculty Soccer Playoff by Oregon, and UCLA obtained mallywhapped by Washington. The important thing to this contest is easy—the well being of Nico Iamaleava, who’s at present listed as day-to-day with neck spasms.

If he can’t play, the Bruins are gonna need to determine one thing out. They’ll want to attain both method as a result of the Trojans have the seventh-ranked passing offense within the nation.

LA has a superb passing protection, rating twenty ninth in yards allowed per sport, however their run protection is weak, so they could need to overcompensate.

SC’s additionally good on the bottom, and their greatest halfback, Waymond Jordan, may be again from harm. Even when he’s a no-go, King Miller’s a strong backup. The duo has rushed for 1,325 yards and ten touchdowns on the 12 months.

UCLA will even need to deal with Makai Lemon, a Biletnikoff Award finalist.

If the Bruins are going to tug off the upset, they’ll want to search out success on the bottom. All three of LA’s victories got here after they ran for 170 yards or extra. Somebody like Jalen Berger must get sizzling, USC is 58th in rush yards allowed per sport.

The Trojans won’t be CFP good, however they’ll beat the Bruins.

Traveler trumps a bear.

USC 38, UCLA 20

No. 21 SMU at Cal

Saturday, November 29
5:00 PM PT, ESPN2

California’s loss to Stanford could also be the most effective factor that’s occurred to this system in a very long time. Despite the fact that the Golden Bears have had a strong 12 months below Justin Wilcox, they’ve lacked consistency.

Cal has already certified for a bowl, however a win in opposition to SMU would possibly get them into an even bigger sport. At present, ESPN has them projected to play within the Hawaii Bowl.

However earlier than the postseason begins, the Bears have a chance to play spoiler this week in opposition to the Mustangs. SMU secures a berth within the ACC title sport with a victory in opposition to Cal.

If the Golden Bears need to pull off the upset, they’ll must restrict the Stangs’ passing assault, which ranks 14th nationally in yards per sport.

They gotta discover a technique to have an effect on Kevin Jennings at quarterback, who has thrown for 3,113 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions this 12 months.

In concept, the Bears match up effectively on this contest, with the Thirty first-ranked move protection in yards allowed per sport. A participant like Hezekiah Plenty might additionally step in entrance of a move. Plenty is tied second nationally with 5 interceptions.

Additionally they should get one thing out’ve their run sport, they rank final within the nation in speeding yards per contest. Jacob De Jesus might additionally impression the sport with some fast hitters; he can break one thing.

Cal’s unpredictability is unpredictable, however SMU is enjoying for an excessive amount of on this one.

Stanggging ouuuut, down the road.

SMU 35, Cal 31

UNLV at Nevada

Saturday, November 29
6:00 PM PT, CBS Sports activities

UNLV can nonetheless make the Mountain West Championship sport, however they want Utah State to knock off Boise State, and a win within the Fremont Cannon rivalry.

For Nevada, knocking off their rival can be a candy technique to finish a nasty 12 months. It will additionally construct momentum heading into subsequent season, as they enter this contest on a two-game win streak.

The important thing to this matchup is the Wolfpack’s offense. The Rebels common 36.7 factors per sport, so UNR might want to put some on the board.

Nevada struggles mightily on offense, solely scoring 17.6 factors per contest, however some notable gamers are Carter Jones, Caleb Ramseur, and Jett Carpenter.

Carpenter might trigger matchup issues at tight finish. He leads the crew with 318 receiving yards. He has additionally added two landing receptions.

Another issues working within the Pack’s favor are that they don’t have anything to lose, and it’s Senior Night time.

UNLV wants to combine it up on offense. The Wolfpack’s protection isn’t next-level, however they’re not a pushover, rating 63rd in move yards allowed per sport and 57th in speeding yards allowed per contest.

If the Rebels can lengthen drives on third downs, they need to be capable to put on them down. Anthony Colandrea and Jai’Den Thomas are tough to sort out within the fourth quarter.

LV ranks Twenty fourth in third-down conversion share. Nevada’s enhancing, however UNLV’s there.

The Rebels raid Reno.

UNLV 45, Nevada 21